A nascent rivalry between two closely related JavaScript programming frameworks—Node.js and IO.js, the latter of which recently split off, or “forked,” from the former—may be heating up. Node’s corporate steward, Joyent, is ready to offer some serious incentives to keep developers from flocking to its rival.

Joyent officially remains optimistic that IO contributors will eventually return to the fork’s master branch. But it’s not taking any chances that IO might start catching fire. Its latest strategy: Set up a startup incubator with major benefits for developers who stick to using Node.

The company’s Node.js Incubator Program is designed for companies, startups, and individuals doing interesting things with Node. Members will receive Joyent’s training and support, $25,000 worth of services in Joyent Cloud Hosting, tools and debugging, access to Node project leader Timothy J Fontaine, plus marketing and networking opportunities.

One more thing: Developers using IO instead of Node are, well, not invited.

“IO.js, what’s that?” asked Joyent CEO Scott Hammond in response to my query about whether projects based on the fork would be able to enter. “This is a Node.js project for Node.js innovations.”

Hammond said applicants will be considered first and foremost on the originality of their projects, from “Web apps to robotics to Internet of Things applications.” Applicants will be able to connect with Joyent at the Node Summit, to be held February 10-11 in San Francisco, and participants in the incoming class will be selected and announced shortly afterward.

When companies are choosing whether to consider Node or IO, this incubator may sway their opinions toward the former.

“[The incubator is about] evangelizing Node.js, finding faster on-ramps for other projects to evaluate Node.js to see if it fits their platform requirements, and help educate the community,” Hammond said. “It’s a knowledge transfer. We want to open Node up widely to show how well it runs.”

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